It took forever for Cutter to come see me in my room, but he did and now he's standing here raging mad. "You weren't supposed to sleep with the enemy E!"

"You weren't supposed to send me in knowing nothing when you knew everything already. We were best friends! You made me your enforcer!" I stand up and poke my finger into his chest. "That means that you tell me everything you know, and we have no secrets from each other!" He grabs my hand with a bit of aggression and throws it down.

"I didn't tell you because you didn't need to know. You would've been too afraid to act, like you are now." Cutter glares down at me and I cross my arms over my chest. "It wasn't like not knowing would kill you."

My eyes narrow at him and I walk over to my bedside table. "Get out of my room."

Cutter takes a step to me and I slip my hand around the gun resting on the table. "This is my house E. I will leave when I want."

I turn and raise the gun to point it directly at his head. "I said, get out of my room." Cutter looks at the gun, the shock on his face is evident. He never thought I would raise my gun to him.

"E." I set the pin with a click and he visibly gulps. "You made a promise to me E. You knelt down and swore to protect me with your life, as my enforcer."

"I also promised to hold up my gun against tyranny and injustice." I look to my gun and back to him. "Seems like I'm holding up to that oath."

Cutter looks almost sad, but I can see the act behind it. Now that I've seen him fake disinterest, I know when he's acting. "E, you would turn against me? After all we have been through?"

"Stop the act Cutter. I can see right through you." I look him up and down. His resolve dissolves and I see the anger form into his features. "Why did you even make me your enforcer?"

Cutter's eyes hold nothing but anger, frustration, and something else I can't quite decipher. "I made you my enforcer because your dad told me to protect you. That is exactly what I have done for years. I taught you how to protect yourself. I have given you the best protection to ever face this earth. I've even saved you from being married off, twice actually."

"You could have protected me without making me your enforcer." I reaffirm my stance and lift the gun back up the inch it had dropped before.

"I don't have to explain things to you E. I run this family. You're only here to pick up what I can't."

"Get out Cutter." My voice is eerily calm, and I think he can tell the difference in it from before. Now I'm ready for blood.

"Fine. Be down for dinner at 7. We have a meeting afterwards." I let out a cold laugh and he raises a brow at me.

"If you think I'm going to be your lackey after you just told me what my purpose here is, you are sadly mistaken." I take a step towards him, gun raised. "I, Alice Reed, Willingly take punishment for breaking my oath to the gang and to you." His eyes widen and his hands fall to his sides. "Do you want it in a recording?" I lower the gun and look right into his eyes. Cutter shakes his head no and I nod before turning around.

They always say not to turn your back to your enemies, but those people aren't me. Cutter leaves, and I place the gun down on the table where it was before. I look down at myself, dressed in a pair of black combat boots, camo cargo pants, and a black wife beater tank. I look as if I'm ready to go to war, and maybe I am. I did just practically start one with Cutter.

There's a faint knock on my door. "Come in." I say in a tense, yet calm voice.

Gas and Brake walk in, looking worried. "Is everything alright?" Gas asks.

I look over my shoulder, but I don't turn around. "Everything's fine. I just broke my oath with Cutter."

Gas and Brake share their version of gasps, which is a sharp intake of air. Brake walks forward and places a hand on my shoulder. "What's the punishment here for breaking your oath?" My hands press themselves against the table, and I look down before closing my eyes.

"The punishment is to be branded a traitor, and to be left in a pitch black cell with no food, or water for three days." I say. The guys are silent and I lift my head. "I agreed to willingly take my punishment. There's no need to call Trevor. We don't need him to come and try to be the savior. This has to happen." My entire body turns to look at them and I hold my composure. "We move forward tonight. There are weapons and such in the basement. You will take whatever you need from there. The rest of the men can come in from the service entrance. I'll show you two the way. Let's go for a walk." They look between each other, keeping quiet.

I walk between the two of them and open my door. The news of my leaving hasn't spread yet, thankfully, and people smile and wave at me. Keeping my composure, I nod my head at each of them and silently walk on. The basement is through the kitchen, but I can't take them down there without suspicion. "Sit at the counter." They do as they're told and I walk to the fridge. "The door to your right is the entrance to the basement. At night there is a guard posted at the door, but only one." They nod and I make the three of us sandwiches while talking. "It'll most likely be a kid so don't kill them. Just knock them out.

After you get the necessary weapons you'll walk back out of the basement and kitchen to the hallway." I place plates in front of them, along with a napkin. They nod and eat as I draw on the napkin. "You'll walk down the hall and take a left at the end. The doorway will be closed, but unlocked. You should see a warehouse on the other side. It's small, but it's still what you want. There is a garage door that you'll want to open, but do it slowly. Cutter has members sleeping close by and if they wake up you're caught." Gas and Brake nod so I give them the napkin. "It has a loading doc Trevor's men can get in through. Keep the napkin. You can call Trevor when we get back to my room." Gas takes it and they stand up and follow me out.

As I walk into my room there are two people there, Kalvin and Desire. "What the hell E?" Kalvin looks at me with his arms crossed. "You're just going to leave us, and what for? A guy? I thought you were better than that."

I cross my room to stand in front of my mirror. "I'm not leaving because of a guy." Gas and Brake look at me and I sigh. "I'm leaving because there are things that Cutter hasn't told anyone, and he isn't fit to lead."

Desire, who has been crying on my bed sits up and looks at me. "What do you mean?"

"Can I talk to them, alone please?" Gas and Brake nod before leaving my room. I wait until the door is closed before turning back to the others. "That guy from the mall is Odin Bane. His father left mine, or who he thinks is my dad, here to maintain things until either he or his son could come back. Cutter isn't the leader of the seven families. There shouldn't even be seven families." Desire gives me confused looks, but Kalvin sits down feeling the gravity of the situation.

"So, are you joining him?" Kalvin's eyes meet mine and I nod. "Then it's settled. I'm leaving too. Thomas and Pedro will agree."

I smile at him, but shake my head. "I don't think you should. I have a plan." Desire is silent and I look at her. "Can I trust you not to tell Cutter?" She looks at both Kalvin and I, and then she stands.

"I won't rat you out, but I don't want to be a part of whatever is going on. I've never been the fighting kind anyways." Desire gives me a tight hug and I return it. "I love you E."

"I love you too Desire." She walks out holding her head high.

"What's you're plan?" Kalvin says, and I turn to look at him.

"Gas and Brake have a rough sketch of the building. They are going to give Trevor's men an in, and they are going to go directly to Cutter. I will then tell him that Trevor is the true leader of the seven families." Kalvin looks me over. "What?"

"I never thought you'd betray Cutter. You of all people." He pauses and sighs. "But circumstances change. I'm with you all the way. Tell me what Thomas, Pedro and I can do to help."

A smile forms on my face. "Can one of you volunteer for guard duty of the basement?" Kalvin nods his head and I call in Gas and Brake. "Guys, this is Kalvin. He is going to get a sympathizer with our cause to guard the basement door, that way you can get in relatively easily." They nod their heads at him and Kalvin says hi. "They don't talk much unless it's too Trevor or James."

"We talk to you Alice." Brake says matter-of-factly. I wave a hand dismissively at them.

"I don't count guys. I make people talk to me." They share a look and shrug at each other. "Anyways, you should get out of here Kalvin. Cutter should be sending someone to come get me soon. You don't want to be in here when they do come." He nods and gives me a hug.

"The guys and I will try to get you out as soon as possible. You shouldn't have to go through that after everything you've put yourself through." Gas and Brake nod in agreement and he leaves.

"He isn't wrong Alice. We could keep them from taking you." Gas offers.

"No, tonight needs to go smoothly. You two need to seem as nonthreatening as possible. The less Cutter cares about you, the better. As a matter of fact, you two should leave. Go down to the media room or something. Wait to start the plan until it's past midnight." I sit down on my bed as they nod and leave, but not before telling me they'll get me out of there.

A few hours pass before I see another human being. "Enforcer?" My door opens wide and a younger member walks in. I stand and cross my arms while looking at him. "It's time." He steps aside and Cutter walks in.

"You don't have to do this E." I walk forward and raise my wrists to the kid. He ties a rope tightly around them and lets me go. "I can't stop this once you leave your room."

"Good." I push past him and into the hallway. There are people lining the walls. I see Kalvin and Thomas standing with Desire and smile at them.

"Traitor!" Someone yells from the crowded people, and others follow their example. I am lead down the stairs and into the cellars in the basement. The entire way people yell traitor and I remain quiet. They won't be yelling that for too much longer.

The door to the basement comes into view and the inside is a black nothing. Cutter leads the way down and I follow behind him.

We reach a dimly lit hall and a cell is opened before me. There are no windows, no openings in the door, nothing. "Strip down." I raise my hands and Cutter cuts me loose. My clothes come off and I hand them to him.

I didn't lie to Gas and Brake, I just didn't tell them everything.

Cutter grabs the whip from the kid and tells him to leave. "One hundred lashes Alice. There's no escaping it now."

"Stop wasting time and get it done Cutter." I look at him completely emotionless and he comes to chain me up. I raise my hands and he cuffs me to the ceiling.

He stands behind me for a second before the first lash. "One." I hold back cries and any tears. The more weakness I show, the better it is for him.

*95 lashes later*

"Cry out E!" He strikes my back and I feel the blood seep out of my back. "97!" His lashes are aggressive and angry. I'm not even holding myself up anymore. I may have dislocated my shoulders after making them hold my entire weight, but I can't tell. The searing, repetitive pain in my back is to strong to notice pain anywhere else. "100!" He pants loudly behind me before walking around me. My vision is blurry and I can't keep my eyes open. "Three days with no food or water." The whip hanging in his hand is dripping blood on the floor and I watch the puddle of blood grow at his feet. "I hope those lashes fester in those three days."

"Cutter!" The door opens and in rushes Thomas. "Trevor is here."

"Shit." Cutter drops the whip and rushes out to clean himself off.

Thomas stays behind and walks over to me. "How far did he get?"

"All one hundred." I manage to croak out.

"Damn. We called Trevor and he is demanding to see you. I don't know how Cutter is going to get out of it, but I can't clean your lashes. He'll notice." Thomas walks around to look at my back. "I'll try to sneak you some food."

"No. I'll be out tonight." I argue.

"What if it doesn't work?" I shake my head as much as I can without hurting myself.

"It will. Now go."

Reluctantly he leaves me and shuts the door. There's a certain point where exhaustion becomes a part of pain, and I think I've hit that point.